Dear ASMAA friends and supporters First I want to thank all that come to the table when I was down in the dumps and really ready to pack it all in. We didn’t raise all the funds needed but you helped us to raise 2945€, which helped to settle all outstanding accounts from 2017 and to cover some of January costs. But … We have deadlines to meet to comply with our financial commitments of monthly overheads, and that deadline is the 8th February. (Currently in our bank account we have 157.92€. Far short of what is needed.) As of January 2018 our monthly fixed costs has increased to 3,500€ per month. This is to cover: Fixed costs · 2,200€ rentals (Lagos – small office (contribution of 400€), Portimão 500m2 premises (1500€) & Barão de São João 140m2 (300€)) · 200€ utilities (budget)(Actual this month 321.51€ electricity, 61.00€ water)) · 50€ accounting fees · 100€ insurance (public liability, motor vehicles, volunteers cover, content of warehouse & shop in Portimão) · 100€ communication costs - tel & Internet - includes pay as you go cards for volunteers (budget) Budget · 500€ travelling costs includes fuel, tolls, train and bus (Lisbon, Coimbra, Alentejo & local Algarve) (meetings) (budget) · 200€ volunteers support (daily meals & transport) · 150€ monthly contingency fund Above does not include: legal & other advisory fees, paid for research fees & documentation costs, campaign running costs, IT & computers, collections & deliveries of goods to fire victims in the north, local collections of goods for shop and warehouse, shop fittings, shop/warehouse inspections & licenses, etc. NEW SELF-SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM It is hoped that with the opening of the charity shop in Portimão, retail sales will help to cover a percentage of these costs. But its early days and it will take a while for the shop to break-even. But we had to do something to generate additional funds for the association in an endeavor to ensure our long-term sustainability. In the charity shop we now have the ground floor operational and open to the public, and we will now be focusing on fixing the cave area. We estimate that we will need 2,500€ to finish it. (Drawing and photos attached) - This will cover: 30 portable clothing rails (if you have any that you are not using and would like to donate it, we would appreciate it) – budget 510€ (if purchased from IKEA) Wood and other finishing goods for additional permanent clothing rails and shelves in 5 rooms downstairs in the cave – budget 1,750€ (again, if you have spare wood laying around that you would like to donate, we would appreciate it) Other finishing items (paint, etc) – 240,00 (AKI) ON THE LEGAL FRONT On the legal front, we are looking at massive legal fees over the next 12 to 18 months, as we lodge our cases. We have budgeted 30,000€ per case (and we are being very conservative). There’s possibly going to be 7 cases that we will have to lodge. 4 of the cases deal with the Algarve and 3 with the north. Due to the fact both Galp/ENI and Australis are planning on drilling from around May this year, this means that we may be forced to lodge all the cases within a relatively short period between each case, if we are to stop them drilling this year. First case is scheduled to be lodged in the next couple of weeks. Currently our legal team has been working non-stop since we received news that this threat is now seriously on our doorstep – (about 3 weeks ago). This means that our legal costs are rising rapidly and will have to be paid. As you can see, we have a major challenge on our hands. Financially it has been a constant battle to stretch a euro … but we have done it up to now with the help of all that has come to the table, and for that we are truly grateful, and we thank you all. But we are still counting on you to help us to carry on and to face this growth head on. YOU: OUR DONORS In total over the last 5 years to date we have received donations from 368 individuals, of which ONLY 3% donate on a regular basis. Now, if everyone made a commitment to donate 20€ per month ever month, we would be able to meet our monthly costs and even be left with some spare cash to address some other needs that still have to be catered for, including assisting in topping up the legal fund to cover short falls. At the end of the day, it is up to you to decide if you want to help us to carry on. All it takes is for you to give up a few cups of coffee per week or the cost of one evening out every month. Here’s how easy it to donate to ASMAA. Via PayPal : info@asmaa-algarve.org or via the link on this page: http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/donate REF: Say NO To Oil (For legal battle) REF: ASMAA (for monthly costs) VIA BANK TRANSFER SANTANDER TOTTA (LAGOS ALGARVE) ASMAA Algarve Surf and Marine Activities Association IBAN: PT50 0018 0008 02686698020 51 REF: Say NO To Oil (For legal battle) REF: ASMAA (for monthly costs) RECAP ASMAA has two main areas that we work in - on the environmental front we have our main causes: the anti oil drilling campaigns in the south and north of Portugal as well as the arising deep-sea mining threat, and on the social front we have two campaigns that we are also involved in: - supporting victims of disasters (like the fires up north), and supporting families in need in the Algarve. Thank you. I’m once again counting on you and your support. We all are! Laurinda Seabra ASMAA CEO 282 182 103 | 969 320 231 Some articles that you may have missed (Portuguese and English) ABOUT ASMAA CHARITY SHOP IN PORTIMÃO ASMAA’s Stylish Charity Store is Now Open in Portimão http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/press-room/asmaa-s-stylish-charity-store-is-now-open-in-portimao A Sofisticada Loja Comunitária da ASMAA já Abriu em Portimão http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/press-room/a-sofisticada-loja-comunitaria-da-asmaa-ja-abriu-em-portimao OIL & GAS EXPLORATION NEWS EU Commission refers Portugal to Court over its failure to adequately protect natural habitats and species http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/what-s-new/eu-commission-refers-portugal-to-court-over-its-failure-to-adequately-protect-natural-habitats-and-species Government ministries reported to be “at odds over Algarve/ Alentejo oil exploration” http://portugalresident.com/government-ministries-reported-to-be-%E2%80%9Cat-odds-over-algarve-alentejo-oil-exploration%E2%80%9D GALP/ENI: Bloco de Esquerda (BE) Requests Documentation from Ministry of Economy and the DGRM http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/what-s-new/galp-eni-bloco-de-esquerda-be-requests-documentation-from-ministry-of-economy-and-the-dgrm Extension of ENI/Galp creates conflict between Economy and Environment ministries. Really? http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/what-s-new/extension-of-eni-galp-creates-conflict-between-economy-and-environment-ministries-really ENI/GALP "EXEMPTED" from paying TUPEM licence fees? http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/what-s-new/eni-galp-exempted-from-paying-tupem-licence-fees Legal Actions that ENI was involved in during 2016 http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/what-s-new/legal-actions-that-eni-was-involved-in-during-2016 Government again extends Galp-ENI's exploration and drilling licence https://algarvedailynews.com/news/13453-government-extends-galp-eni-s-exploration-and-drilling-licence ARTIGOS EM PORTUGUÊS A Comissão Europeia vai intentar uma ação junto do Tribunal de Justiça contra Portugal por incumprimento da sua obrigação de proteger adequadamente certos habitats naturais e espécies. http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/what-s-new/a-comissao-europeia-vai-intentar-uma-acao-junto-do-tribunal-de-justica-contra-portugal-por-incumprimento-da-sua-obrigacao-de-proteger-adequadamente-certos-habitats-naturais-e-especies Galp/ENI: Governo ignora a recomendação da AR? http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/galp-eni-governo-ignora-a-recomendacao-da-ar Exploração Petróleo e Gás Batalha e Pombal: Carta aos Presidentes de Câmara afetados http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/exploracao-petroleo-e-gas-batalha-e-pombal-carta-aos-presidentes-de-camara-afetados Caldas da Rainha contra exploração de petróleo ou de gás natural no concelho http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/caldas-da-rainha-contra-exploracao-de-petroleo-ou-de-gas-natural-no-concelho Australis: Exploração de petróleo e gás preocupa a Câmara de Batalha http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/australis-exploracao-de-petroleo-e-gas-preocupa-a-camara-de-batalha GALP/ENI: Bloco de Esquerda Requere Documentação do Ministério da Economia e da DGRM http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/galp-eni-bloco-de-esquerda-requere-documentacao-do-ministerio-da-economia-e-da-dgrm Petróleo e energia: Governo de joelhos? http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/petroleo-e-energia-governo-de-joelhos ENI/GALP ganha mais um ano para procurar petróleo http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/eni-galp-ganha-mais-um-ano-para-procurar-petroleo Cerca de 50 pessoas manifestam-se frente à AR contra pesquisa de hidrocarbonetos http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/cerca-de-50-pessoas-manifestam-se-frente-a-ar-contra-pesquisa-de-hidrocarbonetos